Straw, a Method of Manufacturing the Straw and a Flexible Container

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are a straw and its manufacturing method. The straw contains an inner tube, an outer tube and a barrier layer. The inner tube has a first port, a second port and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube. The hallow part connects the first port and the second port. The outer tube disposed outside the inner tube has a first port and a second port. The first port of the outer tube is cut flush with the first port of the inner tube. The barrier layer is sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube, and the barrier layer can block the penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube. Furthermore, a flexible container having the above-mentioned straw is also disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a straw, a method of manufacturing the straw and a flexible container, and particularly to a straw with a function of gas barrier, a method of manufacturing the straw and a flexible container.

2. Description of Related Art

The container for liquid accommodation available on the current market mainly includes a synthetic resin container with a popular name of PET bottle, which has advantages of light weight and high security. However, as having a definite shape caused by high rigidity and thus not capable of being deformed elastically along with the amount of contained substances, the PET bottle has disadvantages of large volume and intractable recycle.

In recent years, a flexible container has been developed, of which the superficial shape can vary along with the volume and mobility of the contained substance; and after the contained substance is used up, due to the small volume the flexible container can be folded randomly and thus recycled conveniently. Furthermore, a flexible container with a straw is also developed accordingly to overcome the drinking inconvenience shortage of the flexible container.

As pointed out by research, hydrogen is an ideal antioxidant agent for human body, which is liable to diffuse among cells and exert the antioxidant function quickly. Therefore, hydrogen-water containing drinks packed by the flexible container arise on the market. However, since the hydrogen molecule is very small and is liable to run away from the straw of the container, after a long standing time, often the hydrogen content of hydrogen-water will be reduced. Therefore, many in the industry are endeavoring to find ways in which to design a straw of the flexible container, which can avoid run-out of gas.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a straw including an inner tube, an outer tube and a barrier layer. The inner tube has a first port, a second port and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube. The hallow part connects the first port and the second port. The outer tube disposed outside the inner tube has a first port and a second port. The first port of the outer tube cuts flush with the first port of the inner tube. The barrier layer is sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube, and the barrier layer can block the penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the barrier layer is equal to that of the inner tube.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the straw further includes a closed part used for covering side edges of both first ports of the inner tube and the outer tube. The closed part is formed as one protruded part of the first port of the outer tube extends to cover the first port of the inner tube, or one protruded part of the first port of the inner tube extends to cover the first port of the outer tube or by covering a closing material additionally on the side edges of the inner tube and the outer tube.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the section shape of the outer tube and inner tube of the straw is selected from a group consisting of the follows: circle, trapezoid, triangle, diamond, ellipse and square.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing the aforesaid straw. First, an inner tube including a first port and a second port and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube for connecting the first port and the second port are formed. Thereafter a barrier layer disposed outside the inner tube is provided. Subsequently, an outer tube disposed outside the inner tube is formed, which has a first port and a second port. The first port of the outer tube cuts flush with the first port of the inner tube. The aforesaid barrier layer is sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube, and the barrier layer blocks the penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner tube is manufactured through injection molding by using a material of polyethylene (PE), nylon (NY) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the material of the barrier layer is a metal material, ceramic material, polymeric material or composite material, and providing of the barrier layer is achieved by pasting a preformed barrier layer or coating a material on the outer side of the inner tube through vacuum evaporating, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition or dip coating to form the barrier layer. According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the material of the barrier layer is aluminum. According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the ceramic material of the barrier layer is a silicon oxide material. According to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the silicon oxide material is silicon dioxide.

According to still yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer tube is manufactured through injection molding by using a material of polyethylene (PE), nylon (NY) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Therefore, a further aspect of the present disclosure provides a flexible container. The flexible container is a combined structure of an accommodation part, a straw, and a straw cover. The accommodation part formed from a soft material can accommodate liquids, and has an opening. The aforesaid straw is inserted in the opening to connect with the accommodation part, and the position of connection between the accommodation part and the straw is not lower than that of the second port of the inner tube. The straw cover is applied for closing the first port of the inner tube of the aforesaid straw.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the aforesaid flexible container with a straw further accommodates hydrogen containing water in the flexible container, and the barrier layer of the straw blocks the hydrogen gas in the hydrogen containing water from running away from the inner side to the outer side of the straw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to make the foregoing as well as other aspects, features, advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure more apparent, the accompanying drawings are described as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic structure diagram of a straw according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A illustrates an appearance schematic view of a straw according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the straw shown in FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an appearance schematic view of a flexible container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make the description of the present disclosure more detailed and more comprehensive, various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure are described below illustratively. However, these illustrated aspects and embodiments are not the only way for implementing or using the embodiments of the present disclosure. The implementation covers features of plural embodiments, methods and procedures for constructing and operating these embodiments, and the orders thereof. However, other embodiments can also be used to achieve the same or equivalent function and step order. Therefore, the description below is in purpose of illustrating the principle of the present disclosure, rather than considered as limitation.

In the specification and claims, the singular article “a/an” refers to one or more, unless expressly specified otherwise. Furthermore, the so-called “soft” refers to that the material is “flexible” or “non-rigid”.

In the following description, many specific details are illustrated so that readers can understand the following embodiments completely. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented without these specific details. In other conditions, in order to simplify the drawings, well-known structures and apparatuses are only schematically illustrated in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic structure diagram of a straw 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The structure of the straw 100 consists of an inner tube 110, a barrier layer 120 and an outer tube 130. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner tube 110 has a first port 112, a second port 114 and a hallow part 116 at the inner side of the inner tube. The hallow part 116 connects the first port 112 and the second port 114. The outer tube 130 disposed outside the inner tube 110 has a first port 132 and a second port 134. The first port 132 of the outer tube 130 cuts flush with the first port 112 of the inner tube 110. The barrier layer 120 is sandwiched between the inner tube 110 and the outer tube 130, and the barrier layer 120 can block the penetration of gas between the inner tube 110 and the outer tube 130. In an embodiment, the length of the barrier layer 120 is equal to that of the inner tube 110.

Referring to FIG. 2A, an appearance schematic view of a straw 200 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. Reference is made to FIG. 2B for more detailed illustration structural construction of the straw 200. FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the straw 200 shown in FIG. 2A. As compared with the straw 100, the straw 200 additionally includes a closed part 210 used for covering both side edges of the first port 112 of the inner tube 110 and the first port 132 of the outer tube 130. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the first port 132 of the outer tube 130 has a convex edge higher than the first port 112 of the inner tube 110, the closed part 210 is formed by extending the convex edge of the first port 132 of the outer tube 130 to cover the first port 112 of the inner tube 110. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, when the first port 112 of the inner tube 110 has a convex edge higher than the first port 132 of the outer tube 130, the closed part 210 is formed by extending the first port 112 of the inner tube 110 to cover the first port 132 of the outer tube 130; or alternatively according to a further embodiment, another closing material is used to cover and close the side edges of the inner tube and the outer tube. The closing material may be any conventional polymer material with the function of sealing, so as to seal the barrier layer 120 in the straw. The superficial shape of the closed part 210 is arbitrary as long as not influencing the function of the straw.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the barrier layer 120 can blocks penetration of gas 220 accommodated in the hallow part 116 of the inner tube 110 from the outer tube.

The section shape of the outer tube 130 and inner tube 110 of the aforesaid straws 100, 200 is selected from circle, trapezoid, triangle, diamond, ellipse and square.

The method of manufacturing the aforesaid straw includes the following steps. First, an inner tube having a first port and a second port, and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube are formed, wherein the hallow part connects the first port and the second port. Any conventional straw material can be used as the material of the inner tube. In an embodiment, the material of the inner tube is PE, NY or PET. No limitation is applied to the forming manner of the inner tube, but injection molding is preferred. In an embodiment, the inner tube is formed through plastic injection molding.

Thereafter, a barrier layer is provided as being coated outside the inner tube and sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube. The barrier layer can block penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube. The material of the barrier layer is any material capable of blocking penetration of air, and preferably a material having a non-porous surface characteristic. In an embodiment, the material of the barrier layer is a metal material, ceramic material, polymer material or composite material. The metal material may be aluminum, iron, other metals or alloy. The ceramic material may be a metallic oxide or non-metallic oxide (such as silicon oxide). In an embodiment, the ceramic material is a silicon dioxide (glass) material.

In another embodiment, providing of the barrier layer is achieved by pasting a preformed barrier layer or coating a material on the outer side of the inner tube through vacuum evaporating, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition or dip coating to form the barrier layer.

Subsequently, an outer tube disposed outside the inner tube is formed, which has a first port and a second port. The first port of the outer tube cuts flush with the first port of the inner tube. No specific limitation is applied to the forming manner of the outer tube. In an embodiment, an inner tube coated with a metal layer is placed in a plastic injection molding machine, and thus via buried injection molding a straw with a buried barrier layer is formed. In another embodiment, the material of the outer tube is PE, NY or PET.

Referring to FIG. 3, an appearance schematic view of a flexible container 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the flexible container 300 consists of an accommodation part 310, a straw 200 and a straw cover 320.

The accommodation part 310 is formed from a soft material and can accommodate liquids. The accommodation part 310 has an opening 312. The aforesaid straw 200 is inserted in the opening 312 to connect with the accommodation part 310, and the position of connection between the accommodation part 310 and the straw 200 is not lower than that of the second port 114 of the inner tube 110, so as to form an unsealed flexible container 300. The barrier layer of the straw 200 blocks the gas accommodated in the flexible container 300 from running out through the hallow part 116 at the inner side of the straw 200 to the outer side of the straw 200. The straw cover 320 is used to close the flexible container 300.

In an embodiment, the aforesaid flexible container with the straw may further accommodate hydrogen-containing water. As the hydrogen molecule is very small and thus is liable to penetrate the inner tube and the outer tube, the hydrogen content of the hydrogen-containing water is reduced. The barrier layer of the straw can block run-out of the hydrogen gas from the inner side to the outer side of the straw, so as to facilitate storage of hydrogen in the flexible container. In another embodiment, aluminum is used as the material of the barrier layer.

In the prior art, the straw of the flexible container is just a single layer of plastic material, such that the gas contained in the accommodated substance often run out from the container through the straw. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the barrier layer can effectively block run-out of gas accommodated in the container.

Although the present disclosure has been disclosed with reference to the above embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those of skills in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A straw, comprising: an inner tube having a first port, a second port and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube, wherein the hallow part connects the first port and the second port; an outer tube deposited outside the inner tube, having a first port and a second port, wherein the first port of the outer tube cuts flush with the first port of the inner tube; and a barrier layer sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the barrier layer blocks penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube.
 2. The straw of claim 1, wherein a length of the inner tube is less than or equal to a length of the outer tube.
 3. The straw of claim 1, wherein a length of the barrier layer is equal to a length of the inner tube.
 4. The straw of claim 1, further comprising a closed part used for covering side edges of both of the first ports of the inner tube and the outer tube.
 5. The straw of claim 1, wherein the closed part is formed as one protruded part of the first port of the outer tube extends to cover the first port of the inner tube, or one protruded part of the first port of the inner tube extends to cover the first port of the outer tube, or by covering a closing material additionally on side edges of the inner tube and the outer tube
 6. The straw of claim 1, wherein a sectional shape of the outer tube and inner tube is selected from one of circle, trapezoid, triangle, diamond, ellipse and square.
 7. A method of manufacturing a straw, comprising: forming an inner tube having a first port, a second port and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube, wherein the hallow part connects the first port and the second port; providing a barrier layer disposed outside the inner tube; and forming an outer tube deposited outside the inner tube, having a first port and a second port, wherein the first port of the outer tube cuts flush with the first port of the inner tube, wherein the barrier layer is sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube, for blocking penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the material of the barrier layer is a metal material, ceramic material, polymer material or composite material.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metal material is aluminum.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the ceramic material is a silicon oxide material.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the silicon oxide material is silicon dioxide.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein providing of the barrier layer is achieved by pasting a preformed barrier layer or coating a material on the outer side of the inner tube through vacuum evaporating, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition or dip coating to form the barrier layer.
 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the material of the inner tube and the outer tube is polyethylene (PE), nylon (NY) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
 14. The method of claim 7, wherein the inner tube and the outer tube are formed through injection molding.
 15. A flexible container, comprising: an accommodation part formed from a soft material, used for accommodating liquids, wherein the accommodation part has an opening; a straw, inserted in the opening to connect with the accommodation part, wherein the straw comprises: an inner tube having a first port, a second port and a hallow part at the inner side of the inner tube, wherein the hallow part connects the first port and the second port; an outer tube deposited outside the inner tube, having a first port and a second port, wherein the first port of the outer tube cuts flush with the first port of the inner tube; and a barrier layer sandwiched between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the barrier layer blocks penetration of gas between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein a position of connection between the accommodation part and the straw is not lower than a position of the second port of the inner tube; and a straw cover used for closing the first port of the inner tube of the straw.
 16. The flexible container of claim 15, further comprising hydrogen-containing water accommodated in the flexible container, wherein the barrier layer of the straw blocks run-out of hydrogen gas in the hydrogen-containing water from the inner side to the outer side of the straw.
 17. The flexible container of claim 16, wherein a length of the inner tube is less than or equal to a length of the outer tube, and a length of the barrier layer is equal to a length of the inner tube.
 18. The flexible container of claim 17, further comprising a closed part used for covering side edges of both of the first ports of the inner tube and the outer tube.
 19. The flexible container of claim 18, wherein the closed part is formed as one protruded part of the first port of the outer tube extends to cover the first port of the inner tube, or one protruded part of the first port of the inner tube extends to cover the first port of the outer tube, or by covering a closing material additionally on side edges of the inner tube and the outer tube
 20. The flexible container of claim 19, wherein a sectional shape of the outer tube and inner tube is selected from one of circle, trapezoid, triangle, diamond, ellipse and square. 